Judy Darcy fifth B.C. cabinet minister not seeking re-election

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Another BC NDP cabinet minister has announced their name won’t be on the ballot the next time British Columbians head to the polls. This comes amid growing speculation a snap provincial election may be called in the coming days, one year ahead of schedule.

Judy Darcy, the Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, said Thursday she will not be seeking re-election in the next provincial election.

“Representing the people of New Westminster and serving as a minister in the John Horgan government has been the greatest honour of my lifetime,” she said in a statement.

RELATED: Two NDP MLAs not seeking re-election

She has served as an MLA for New Westminster since 2013. In 2017, Darcy became the province’s first and Canada’s only minister of mental health and addictions.

“I have spent over 50 years of my life as an advocate and activist and then a legislator, and I will always feel a restless sense that there is still so much more to do,” she said.

Minister of Jobs and Economic Development Michelle Mungall said Wednesday she wouldn’t be running again. 

This follows similar announcements from Shane Simpson, minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; Doug Donaldson, minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development; and Scott Fraser, minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation.

Finance Minister Carole James isn’t running in the next election either, following her diagnoses of Parkinson’s Disease.

Mounting speculation of a snap election

It’s all but confirmed but rumours continue to swirl in and around the capital that Premier John Horgan will soon call a provincial election which could send British Columbians to the polls as early as next month.

On Monday, while speaking at a news conference, Horgan said, “We’ve been preparing for the eventuality of an election since day one, and I expect all other political parties have been as well.” He made the comments while sidestepping direct questions about whether he would ask the lieutenant-governor to dissolve the legislature.

Another BC NDP minister has announced they’re not seeking another term. @DarcyJudy is the latest to say she’s not running in the next election. She joins @michellemungall, Doug Donaldson, Scott Fraser, @carolejames and Shane Simpson. You ready for a snap election? #bcpoli

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) September 17, 2020

The election has to be held on a Saturday and polling stations would have to find a way to allow voters to cast their ballot while following public health guidelines and maintaining social distancing rules during this COVID-19 pandemic.

There are three possible scenarios if and when the writ is dropped. If the election is called by Sept. 22nd, the election will be held on Oct. 24. If the election is called between Sept. 23-29, then the vote will be on Halloween, which is unlikely. If the election is called between Sept. 30-Oct. 6, then you will have the chance to carry out your civic duty on Nov. 7.

Word out of Victoria is the provincial government may avoid holding the election in November when cold and flu season will be in full swing.

The current government is only in power after the NDP and BC Green Party signed the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) in 2017 and Horgan said he would not request the dissolution of the legislature, “during the term of the agreement, except following the defeat of a motion of confidence,” which hasn’t happened.

Earlier this week, just minutes after being introduced as the new leader of the BC Greens, Sonia Furstenau called the possible election “unnecessary,” and pushed Horgan not to call one.

BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson echoed her comments on Monday.

Regardless of when the election is called, NEWS 1130 will have full coverage both on-air and online.